Established in 1979, Life Flight was the first helicopter air ambulance in the State of Oklahoma. With some of the most experienced providers in the state, that means a higher quality of patient care can be delivered. This results in better outcomes for their patients.

In March 2021, Tulsa Life Flight-5 began operating out of Okmulgee Airport.

In September 2023, Tulsa Life Flight in Okmulgee and Pryor were honored to receive the C.T. Thompson Award for Excellence in Trauma Care by St. Francis Hospital. This was a special honor for the team because their program was the vision of the late Dr. C.T. Thompson, along with Dr. Jerry Gustafson. The annual award recognizes medical professionals who provide outstanding trauma care while treating their patients with the utmost compassion and dedication. Tulsa Life Flight is part of Air Methods, the nation’s leading air medical service provider. Tulsa Life Flight employs 45 pilots, nurses, paramedics, and mechanics, and has three aircraft and a heavy maintenance facility in the area. Since its inception, they have performed over 54,000 safe patient transports.

In September 2024, in honor of providing 45 years of lifesaving emergency air medical care, Tulsa Life Flight held a special event on Sept. 13 at the Renaissance Tulsa Hotel to mark the notable anniversary.

The event, which was held in conjunction with the Saint Francis Trauma Symposium to honor the program’s founding history with the hospital, brought together past and present crew members, as well as local medical, EMS, and first responder leaders.

Founded in 1979 as a joint effort with Saint Francis Hospital and Hillcrest Medical Center, Tulsa Life Flight was the 13th air ambulance program in the nation. In 1984, it became one of the first to carry blood products outside of a hospital, and to date, the program has transported over 54,000 patients.